The Network aims to improve peace, security and democratic development in the Region of the South Caucasus via young women’s increased participation in peace and security policy analysis and planning. We are here to open up a discourse on peace and security and women's participation in Regional developments.

суббота, 23 августа 2014 г.

Lithuanian diplomat 'murdered in eastern Ukraine'

Lithiuania's honorary consul in eastern Ukraine has been murdered by rebels, according to the country's foreign minister. The diplomat was said to have been kidnapped and "brutally killed" by pro-Russian terrorists.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said Friday that Mykola Zelenec, the country's honorary consul in eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, has been kidnapped and killed by the pro-Russian rebels there.

Linkevicius, who is on a visit to Kyiv, posted the news on his Twitter account.

The announcement came after local officials in Ukraine said 20 trucks had entered the pro-Russian stronghold of Luhansk on Friday, despite objections from Kiev. Lithuania had requested a meeting of the Security Council for late on Friday, describing the convoy as an "invasion."

In a phone call to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin said after Kyiv's "clear procrastination," further delays would have been "unacceptable" considering the disaster in the conflict zone. Ukraine's state security chief Valentin Nalivaychenko on Friday said Moscow's decision to start sending the trucks across the border constituted a "direct invasion" and a "well-planned dangerous provocation," according to the Interfax Ukraine news agency. He added that Ukraine would not attack the convoy and wanted to avoid any confrontations.

Alarming buildup of Russian forces

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Friday there was an "alarming buildup" of Russian air and ground forces around Ukraine.

"We have also seen transfers of large quantities of advanced weapons, including tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery to separatist groups in eastern Ukraine," Rasmussen said in a statement.

He sharply criticized Moscow's decision to send the convoy forcefully over the border, saying it was a "blatant breech of Russia's international commitments" and that it "only deepens the crisis."

"The disregard of international humanitarian principles raises further questions about whether the true purpose of the aid convoy is to support civilians or to resupply armed separatists," he added.

Humanitarian crisis

A humanitarian disaster has been unfolding in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. According to the United Nations, more than 415,000 people have been displaced since fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists began four months ago. More than 2,000 have been killed. Parts of the country have been without running water or electricity for weeks.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday.

1 комментарий:

In general, situation in Ukraine right now is absolutely out of control and all of us more or less realize, that international society should do something to solve the problem in order to return the peace to Ukrainian people.

Despite this critical situation, the latest news about the murder of the Lithuanian diplomat absolutely shocked me!!! While diplomatic missions all over the world are untouchable and have special rights, they are people who must keep dialogue between two sides of the conflict, in Ukraine they are just victims of terrorist groups!!

If the tragedy of MH17 meant nothing, I think, that this is a real signal to us to do real things to solve the problem.

Facts from History

CEDAW

UNSCR 1325

Strategy for engagement and joint actions on confidence building and P2P diplomacy that involve women. Final Report

YOUTH PEACE PLAN OF GEORGIA

This publication is produced within the framework of the project - ‘‘Support Democratic Participation of Young Women in Building Peace and Stability in Georgia’’ implemented in Georgia by International Network for Civil Development - INCD in partnership with Young Women Experts’ Network for Peace and Security (YWEPS) and with the financial support of the Embassy of Canada through Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).